ALBANY — When chances allowed, the area's top two Class AA squads took turns keeping tabs on the other. One night, Albany watched Bethlehem compete. A week later, the Eagles checked out the Falcons.

Monday evening, a showdown many fans, and these two teams, have anticipated will finally come to fruition in the first-ever Section II Class AA final held at Times Union Center.

Bethlehem (20-0), ranked No. 2 in the state and the overall champion of the Suburban Council, will meet Big 10 champ Albany (19-1) Monday at 6:30 for the championship. The Falcons are rated No. 9.

"We didn't want to look past anybody, and I know they didn't either. This is a game we have been waiting on for a long time," Albany first-year coach Decky Lawson said. "Bethlehem is a hard-nosed defensive team just like we are. I'm excited to see what happens."

"I think we have done a nice job of focusing on each game," Bethlehem coach Matt Bixby said. "The girls have been talking about this one, but we both had to take care of things in order to have this opportunity."

Both teams endured stiff semifinal challenges before advancing. Bethlehem edged 2012 champion Colonie 44-40 Wednesday in the first semifinal at Hudson Valley Community College for its third win this season over the Garnet Raiders.

The Falcons fought their way past Shaker 47-41 to advance to their second straight final. Guards Emia Willingham-Hurst and Ayanna Hunter fueled Albany's late-game push against the Blue Bison.

Willingham-Hurst, who is being recruited by several Division I schools, was named last week as one of five finalists for Miss New York Basketball. She tops the Falcons at 20.3 points per game.

"They are very good at getting to the rim and have a great outside shooter in Cara Waterson, but they are also strong inside. There are a lot of things to prepare for," Bixby said of Albany.

"This team has brought our community together. So many people are talking about girls' basketball," Lawson said. "I can't wait to see how the kids react to the big stage."